1st BIG trip

[DavieSV]

I want to ride to Wick in the north of Scotland on Friday the 24th of Feb to see my mum & back down on the Sunday the 26th of Feb. I live near Derby so approx 1100 mile round trip. I've had a look at the weather but this far advanced it's hard too tell. Any advice?

Take the car or train! Half joking really as thats' a fair old trip unless you know the weather's going to be half decent. Otherwise in Feb could be gruelling.

My only other tips would be wrap up real real warm, take lots of layers and spare kit such as gloves. If its wet and cold in just the first 100miles your hands will get miserable..unless your one of the lucky ones with the fabled completely waterproof gloves. Perhaps invest in heated grips if you dont have any and heated jackets are good so Im told.

But if it were my mum she would worry sick so I'd take the car

[DavieSV]

The thread was probably more of a sub consious prayer,
I need to go and see her as it's her birthday,
I drive a Toyota 4 wheel drive, probably in the region of £280 in deisel for the trip & 10 hours each way. Train costs £203, 13hours on the way up & 19hours on the way down, I really could do with good weather,
Why she chose to live up there????????????????????

First go for a relatively short run - like Matlock on this coming Sunday morning - see MIGTS section for more details :P

www.metcheck.com is my choice of weather sites. have found it to be pretty accurate and it gives 7 day forecasting.

Given half decent weather it will be fine.

One last tip is remember 1100 miles is possibly 1/4 of a rear tyre, so make sure its not too near the limit before you set off.

Ensure she has a hot airing cupboard and that there is space in it, so you can dry your kit once you get there. Stuff your boots with crunched up newspaper before putting them in the airing cupboard and change it after a day.

As others have mentioned, a spare pair of gloves is a real boon, too.

Dry kit on long distances makes a massive difference. Good luck!

[embee]

Originally Posted by DavieSV

....I drive a Toyota 4 wheel drive, probably in the region of £280 in deisel for the trip .........

erm, 1100mls, £280 diesel is about 300 odd litres or around 70 galls, so that's 15mpg. Exactly what sort of Toyota do you have?

[DavieSV]

Trip off
poorly child missus working, so have to look after afore mention child.
Thanks for the advice though
went out for ride sunday night, even with thick winter gloves, after 3/4 hour sore thumbs If I contimue with the winter rides, I must investigate the heated grips, sounds plush would not make it to the north of nowhere with cold hands.

embee, may have embelished abit on fuel economy, but not alot, the truck has the aerodinamics of a brick and if you want to get to the north of scotland in a day, you need to exceed the recomended 55mph

Well Oiled, would love to but missis works all weekend when summer comes & baby is alittle older

Thanks everyone,
What I've learned:-
Check weather
Check tyres
Check everything & make sure ure mam has a cup of tea waiting
I'm off to get a spare pair of dry winter gloves

[northwind]

If you do make the trip, let me know in advance, you can sleep in teh shed when hypothermia hits you